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In a muddy field on the outskirts of Portishead, near Bristol, volunteers brave the cold to cut back trees from the edge of a pond. The idea is to make space for an inclined platform that will allow children to catch newts(蝾螈)and frogs from the water so they can learn more about them.
Helen Mason is one of the regular volunteers on the site, which is being transformed into a nature reserve under the management of the Avon Wildlife Trust (AWT). But Mason is no ordinary volunteer--she is one of the residents living in a new development adjacent to the reserve and, as a condition of purchase, has agreed to pay an annual fee towards the maintenance of the land. As a result, she has a stake in the reserve.
The arrangement that Mason has bought into is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK. Every property owner of the 2,550 new homes in the Portbury Wharf development gets a stake in the 117-acre reserve being created on their doorstep. Steve Micklewright, director of community programs at AWT, explains that without public contributions, the charity would have been unable to take the site on at all.
The creation of the reserve is intended to offset the impact of housing construction on the adjacent deserted site. AWT community officer Neil Hutton explains that his role is a balancing act between encouraging the community to use the site and ensuring that natural habitats are protected.
There is no obligation for residents to volunteer, but the trust hopes to increase interest as people become more aware of the nature reserve and what it offers. "A good number of people are getting involved, considering the indifference of the general public," says resident Claire Short. "A lot of residents bought the houses without really realizing what was here, so it’s a challenge for the trust to re- educate us all and make sure we use the facilities."
Carl Haley, managing director of AWT, predicts that maintenance costs are likely to rise in the future, but that this should be balanced by an increased number of residents. About half the properties are currently sold. "As the reserve becomes more mature, with that comes issues like fencing degrading and having to replace wooden structures. But the number of residents will increase and therefore the funds collecting should stabilize and income will be matching the expenditure," he explains.
With budgets tight, the question of who should take responsibility for environmental costs can be a sticky one. Short, though, is clear that accountability should be shared. " It’s not solely our responsibility, nor is it a government responsibility, nor is it a charity responsibility," she says, "I think we should all take care of the environment in which we’re living, which is becoming more and more precious.\

What do we know about the natural reserve adjacent to the Portbury Wharf development（）

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